We are having a pool party for our daughter's 15th birthday. Due to scheduling conflicts, there is only one weekend we can have it, and of course everything that weekend is booked already. There is an 8-10pm slot open Sunday night, but since about 75% of the guests do not drive yet I am concerned about a low turnout due to parents not wanting to pick up kids at 10pm and get up for work the next day. Comments, anyone?
Thanks for all the great ideas, Moms! Most importantly, you made me think alternatives: movie nights, rides home, and so on. My daughter has her heart set on the pool, but Providence has smiled and some obligations have been rescheduled. We are going for 8-10pm on a different weekend with Fridays and Saturdays open.
Hi K.
sounds like fun- I would offer to give those who needed it a ride home-
have fun
good luck and blessings
Hi K.,
I don't think 10pm is too late for a 15 yr old. I personally know the limitations of these pool parties since I recently had one from 8:30-10:30pm on a Friday night for my 6 yr old. Believe it or not, most all of his friends invited showed up even though it was so late. The parents really liked that the sun wasn't a factor in the fun the kids have. Even the tween and teen siblings enjoyed themselves. I say go for it and have a great time!
Since I presume that most of your daughter's friends are from the same school, they must not live too far apart. What if you organized carpools and took as many home as you could yourself? My kids started organizing their own carpools at about this age. We never minded 10:00, which still gets you home at a reasonable hour for our family. Some folks might, but they could carpool.
make it a sleepover.
I agree with Jo. Since it is summer and it is so hot during the day, most parents do not like their kids out in the 100+ heat so they let them stay out a little longer in the evenings...
Could you also get some parents to carpool some of the kids to their houses? I know I have offered this as much as possible when my daughter was invited to parties.
it is summer time and parents expect to have to help kids have a good time and 10 during the summer is not at all late. Even for those who have to work. If it were on a Sunday and there was school the next day that would be different. Good luck.
We've picked up children from parties this late, if there is no school the next day. Just depends on the parents of those actually invited as to whether this would be a problem.
Another idea would be to get a big van and provide a drop off service for the kids...when one of my daughters was younger they had a "mock sleepover" pj's and pillowfights, but at 9pm they loaded the van and started taking kids home. The birthday girl came along and the fun continued on the way to drop off everyone. The only one affected for the next day of work was the host.
Have fun!
For the kids, 10 isn't too late because it's summer. But for working parents, especially those with a significant commute, it's another story.
If YOU don't work, then I think the optional sleepover idea is the best one. The kids can have a good time, and the parents won't have to worry about picking them up at 10. If you can get the help of one other non-working parent to help you drive them back to your house, that would be good. Then you can take them home in shifts in the morning if it's only you with them.
Personally, yeah i wouldn't want my kid to be out that late and me have to work the next morning....sorry! Why don't you just have a movie night that starts at 6 so it ends closer to around 8 or so?
Good day K.,
I've learned that you will NEVER be able to accomodate and please everyone. You will have to do what's best and works out for you. You could call the parents of the friends and see if they would be able to make it. I find that my daughter is happy if it's just 2 or 3 of her closets friends. Converse with your daughter and get her intake on the matter.
Maybe some of the parents would shaparone? (spelling???) Or rent a party bus/van so some kids can still attend but get home faster??? Or maybe these parent's would agree to a sleep over for some and they could go home or school the next day??? That's a tough one with the timing & day!!! Good luck, Jules :)
Do you have a van? Could you take the kids back? Get a neighbor or family member to help you drive the kids back to there homes. It would be really nice for the parents of the kids. Call some parents and find out, you might have to plan for something else. I personally would not be thrilled at the idea but would do it knowing it was a special event and its not like I pick up my kid at 10 every weekend.
I think if you could possibly move the party up an hour to make it 7-9 then you'll have more people show up. If not, then I wouldn't worry too much about it because if those kids are truely your daughter's friends then they'll be there for her. Plus you may have some kids come and just leave a little earlier than 10pm to fit their parents schedule.
From this FT working mom's perspective... 10pm is too late. Keep in mind that getting home at 10 means actual bedtime won't be until 11 or 11:30. I say move it to another weekend, even if its a little off in the distance. You can celebrate her actual birthday with the family and have the party several weeks later if necessary. Or find something else to do if she really wants it to happen around a certain time period.
It is kind of late, would you be able to make sleeping over an option for the parents that think it's too late?
I personally think 10pm is too late on a work night; especially considering nothing is ever done on time. =) Maybe you could offer a sleepover for the girls with working parents for your daughter's close friends. It's hard finding a time that's right for everyone, so pick one that works for your family and celebrate with whoever can come.
I think for a 15 yr old party 10pm is not too late at all. I know lots of people that are at their kid's baseball games and things until around then. I would make a note on the invitation that you would be willing to provide rides home if needed. Maybe you could ask some of the parents you know if they could give some kids a ride home if needed. Try to pair up kids that live in the same neighborhood to make it easier on the parents. Sounds like fun!! I think 15 yr olds will love a late night pool party!!
Based on the party being on a Sunday night - you probably will have a low turn out.
Can you not move the party to another month? or perhaps rethink the type of party and do something with just the girls?
I do not think 10 pm is too late.
Have boys, 15, 17 and 19. We have been doing the teen pick-up thing for a long time. 11:00 would definitely be pushing it, but 10 is fine.
My kids have been involved in all kids of things that have them leaving the house at 4, 4:30, 5:00 AM for tournaments....or coming back on the bus at 12, 1 or 2 AM. Parents pick up and drop off at all kinds of hours for their kids. No worries.
And I think your turn-out will be very good on a Sunday evening, b/c people get so busy on Friday and Saturday.
10 pm is not too late for 15 yr olds. Their parents will be picking them up from plenty of things that late or later. Have fun.
After reading others responses I would add that I would never offer to give other peoples children a ride home in a van or anything else. You are liable if there is an accident. My daughter was injured in a charter bus accident and two of her friends were killed.
If people are not used to picking up their kids at various times they need to get used to it. I always wanted to come and pick them up anyway to check out what is going on and to get to meet the parents of my kids friends.
I think it would be too late for most parents. But, you could have fun anyway!
